RollPros Blackbird vs. Hefestus AuraX: Which Pre-Roll Machine is Better?
If you’re a pre-roll manufacturer exploring automation, you likely have the RollPros Blackbird and the Hefestus AuraX on your short list of options because they’re two of the best pre-roll machines on the market. But while they share similarities, it’s the differences between them that’ll matter the most to your bottom line and overall efficiency.
Instead of scouring the internet for answers or sifting through sales assets to find what you’re looking for, we’ve done the comparison work for you. So, keep reading for an in-depth comparison of the RollPros Blackbird vs. Hefestus AuraX to find out which is right for you.
RollPros Blackbird vs. Hefestus AuraX: Quick Comparison
| Machine | Estimated Production Volume | Production Capabilities | Training & Support | Estimated Price | Notable Customers |
| Hefestus AuraX | 2,000+/hr | Cones, straight rolls, and every other pre-roll shape and size; every kind of infused pre-roll | Full week of on-site training and SOP development; 24/7 support from technicians in US and abroad | $230k | AWH, Verano, Lowell Herb Co, STIIZY, MUNCHIES!, Juicy Joints, Jetleaf, High Grade |
| RollPros Blackbird | 900/hr | Straight rolls only; some types of infused pre-rolls | Training and set-up for new installations | $225k | Mello, Rebel Spirit, Green Thumb Industries |
RollPros Blackbird Overview
The RollPros Blackbird is a popular, fully automated pre-roll filling machine that’s designed explicitly for straight-roll or cigarette-style joints. Its proprietary TruRoll™ technology is designed to mimic the traditional hand-rolling motion.
In doing so, it produces consistent, tight rolls that offer consumers a smooth and even burn. Unlike other machines that fill cones, the Blackbird rolls joints from papers, just like a consumer would, giving a classic rolled cigarette shape.
The Blackbird has the capacity to produce over 900 joints per hour, or up to 5,000 per shift, depending on your facility’s exact setup or operator configuration. This makes it ideal for mid- to high-volume operations that produce only straight-roll SKUs.
If you’re an operator switching from manual or semi-automatic pre-roll workflows to automatic ones, support and training are probably high on your list of must-haves for an automation partner.
RollPros supports new operators with basic training and set-up for initial installations. The operation of the equipment relies on a relatively intuitive interface, and ongoing maintenance typically involves just cleaning and regular calibration.
Because the Blackbird produces a narrower range of SKUs than a machine like the AuraX, the onboarding process is simpler compared to some system.
So, what’ll the equipment cost you? The Blackbird costs $225,000, which is only slightly less expensive than multi-SKU systems with higher output, like the Hefestus AuraX. But if straight rolls are your bread and butter, Rollpros’ financing options can offer you a path toward ownership even if your brand and budget are smaller.
The Blackbird will drive a significant ROI for your operation because it will allow you to put your employees on higher-leverage tasks while improving your profit margin per pre-roll.
Just keep in mind that since it only allows you to produce straight rolls, your long-term ROI is capped if you decide to expand into cones, infused products (which now account for nearly half of pre-roll sales), or any pre-roll that isn’t a straight roll.
For many brands, this line extension is a key method of improving customer lifetime value (LTV) while capturing new segments of the market, and this is an area where the Blackbird has significant limitations.
All in all, if your brand intends to stick to straight-rolls – and only straight-rolls – then the RollPros Blackbird might be right for you. But if you plan to introduce cones and infused SKUs
Pros
- TruRoll™ Technology: Proprietary system mimics hand-rolling for consistent, tight joints with smooth, even burns.
- High Production Capacity: Produces 900+ joints per hour (up to 5,000 per shift), suitable for mid- to high-volume operations.
- Simple Operation: Intuitive interface with straightforward onboarding requiring minimal training and maintenance.
Cons
- Single SKU Type Limitation: Restricted to straight-roll/cigarette-style joints only with no ability to produce cones or other formats.
- High Price Point: At $225,000, costs nearly the same as multi-SKU systems that offer higher output and greater versatility.
- Limited Scalability: Restricted long-term ROI potential if brand expands into infused products, cones, or other product formats.
Best For
The RollPros Blackbird is best for mid- to high-production straight-roll manufacturers that have no future plans to expand into cones and infused SKUs and have the upfront capital to invest in the advanced automation. If your brand identity is only straight-roll joints, and you have the demand for producing 5,000 joints per day or shift, the Blackbird is a solid option for automation.
Hefestus AuraX Overview
The Hefestus AuraX is a pre-roll automation system backed by 30 years of precision automation experience and over a decade in cannabis manufacturing.
The AuraX produces over 2,000 pre-rolls per hour with just one operator, over twice as many as the Blackbird. It’s also a more versatile machine: the AuraX can handle any joint type or size, from cones to straight rolls, to infused varieties and blunts.
One of the things that attracts many companies to the Hefestus AuraX is that we offer customized training, adapting your new machine to needs. During installation, our technicians will help you develop SOPs for the specific products you want to produce, making it easy for you to get up and running immediately.
Between the versatility the AuraX offers, the expert support from our team, and the increased production you’ll get, the AuraX has the power to replace three or more full-time staff members, letting you assign your people to higher-impact tasks.
In real-time use, the AuraX allows you to scale past 30k pre-rolls a month, making it ideal if you run a high-volume operation, MSO, co-packing operation, or larger brand seeking to overtake the pre-roll category in your market.
Beyond filling, our optional components like the Weight Checker and AutoTube further simplify your workflows by baking compliance and quality assurance into the system. This further reduces labor costs while improving efficiency.
But when it comes to running a high-volume pre-roll operation, uptime is just as important as versatility. We have world-class technicians in both the U.S. and Israel, allowing us to provide 24/7 assistance to your team.
All in all, the AuraX’s versatility and scale – and our training and support – are extremely difficult to match. Because our machine can handle cones and straight rolls while allowing you to infuse joints with live resin, kief, diamonds, or any other type of concentrate, it allows you possibilities that other pre-roll machines simply cannot.
Our price tag reflects our machine’s capabilities. The AuraX costs, on average, around $230,000. But that’s just $5,000 more than the RollPros, which is far less versatile. When you factor in the versatility, throughput, and support, the AuraX will end up producing a better ROI than any other machine on the market.
Hefestus also understands the constraints of the cannabis industry, and we’re dedicated to helping our partners access automation more easily by offering flexible financing for your situation.
We believe everyone deserves the best. If that’s you, use the button in the header to reach out to our team and find out how the AuraX can help your operation scale more efficiently.
Pros
- High Production Capacity: Produces 2,000+ pre-rolls per hour (up to 30,000 monthly), more than double competing machines’ output.
- Unparalleled Versatility: Handles all joint types and sizes including cones, straight rolls, infused varieties, and blunts on one machine, with seamless transitions.
- Comprehensive Support: 30 years automation expertise, customized training, operation-specific SOPs, and 24/7 U.S./Israel support teams.
Cons
- Higher Initial Investment: $230,000 upfront cost requires substantial capital, challenging for smaller operations or startups.
- Operational Scale Requirements: Best suited for operations producing 30,000+ pre-rolls monthly; may exceed smaller producers’ needs.
- Increased Complexity: Advanced features and versatility require more extensive training compared to simpler, single-purpose machines.
Best For
The Hefestus AuraX is best for mid- to high-volume producers, MSOs, and co-packing operations producing 30,000+ pre-rolls monthly which require flexibility across multiple SKU types.
If your operation needs (or wants) to manufacture multiple SKUs while seamlessly switching between formats to maximize uptime and efficiency, the AuraX is the best automation system on the market.
RollPros Blackbird vs. Hefestus AuraX: How Do They Compare?
Now that you have a complete overview of each automated pre-roll machine, let’s break down how the Blackbird and AuraX compare on the dimensions most important to your operation’s overall success.
Production Volume
The Hefestus AuraX significantly outpaces RollPros Blackbird in production volume. The AuraX has the capability to produce over 2,000 pre-rolls per hour, with a single operator, which is roughly double the Blackbird’s output of approximately 900 straight-roll joints per hour.
Even though the Blackbird’s output is sufficient for mid-volume operators committed exclusively to producing straight-roll joints, it’s the AuraX’s speed that allows you to replace multiple employees and achieve ROI considerably faster.
If you’re an operator seeking to improve your production volume as quickly as possible, the AuraX’s capacity makes it the better option for long-term success.
Production Capabilities
When it comes to production capabilities, the difference between the Hefestus AuraX and the RollPros Blackbird is night and day.
The AuraX is built to handle every type of pre-roll product on the market, including cones, blunts, infused SKUs, and straight rolls, all within one fully automated system. The Blackbird, by contrast, is limited to a single output: cigarette-style joints.
The Blackbird’s bobbin-fed paper system can reduce paper costs slightly, but that savings comes at the expense of flexibility and output. Producing around 900 joints per hour, it simply cannot compete with the AuraX’s 2,000+ joints per hour and the labor efficiency that comes with full automation.
Even if you save a few cents on paper with the Blackbird, you lose the ability to expand into higher-margin products and the ability to adapt as market demand shifts toward infused and cone-style pre-rolls.
The AuraX delivers consistency and precision across every format, including straight rolls, while doubling the speed of the Blackbird. It allows you to pivot seamlessly between SKUs, producing whatever your customers want without downtime or additional machines.
And because the AuraX supports modular add-ons like the Weight Checker and AutoTube, you can automate even more of your workflow, from quality control to packaging.
If you’re an operator focused on scale, adaptability, and profitability – short-term and long-term – the AuraX is the only machine that truly grows with your business.
Training & Support
When it comes to uptime, training and support are just as important as the machine itself. This is where the Hefestus AuraX clearly separates from the RollPros Blackbird.
Because the AuraX is a fully automated system designed to produce multiple SKUs, we provide five full days of on-site installation, training, and SOP development to ensure your team can start producing immediately. Every purchase includes hands-on instruction from our technicians, who work with you to fine-tune settings, create repeatable workflows, and prepare your line for maximum efficiency.
Beyond the initial setup, we offer 24/7 global support from our teams in the U.S. and Israel. This means you’re never left waiting when production issues arise. Our goal is to reduce downtime, improve consistency, and give operators the confidence to scale without hesitation.
By comparison, the Blackbird offers basic training and standard maintenance guidance, which suits its simpler operation but lacks the depth and personalization that come with on-site setup and SOP creation. Over time, that difference becomes costly in both uptime and output.
Your AuraX pre-roll machine is a critical business asset, and that’s why we deliver world-class support that keeps your operation running efficiently and profitably for years to come.
Price & Financing
At first glance, the Hefestus AuraX and RollPros Blackbird appear close in price, with the AuraX starting around $230,000 and the Blackbird around $225,000. But focusing only on upfront cost misses what matters most: long-term value and return on investment.
The AuraX produces more than double the output – over 2,000 joints per hour compared to 900 – and supports every major SKU format, including cones, blunts, and infused products. That versatility opens multiple revenue streams that the Blackbird simply cannot.
Hefestus also offers flexible, cannabis-specific financing programs to help operators scale immediately without straining cash flow. While the Blackbird provides financing as well, it doesn’t offer the same industry-tailored options or long-term profit potential.
If your business intends to grow or adapt to new market demands, the AuraX is the clear investment. The small price difference quickly disappears once you factor in throughput, product diversity, and ongoing scalability.
In short, saving $5,000 upfront means committing to a machine that produces half as much and limits your ability to expand. The AuraX delivers the stronger ROI, faster payback, and lasting value that you’re looking for when you invest in an advanced automation system.
Conclusion: Which Pre-Roll Machine is the Best For Your Business?
While both the Hefestus AuraX and RollPros Blackbird are good options if you’re a mid- to high-volume producer looking to scale past 10-30k joints per month, the real difference lies in flexibility.
If your goal is to produce only cigarette-style joints, the Blackbird may meet your needs for now – but it limits your ability to grow in the long term.
For operators focused on expansion, product diversity, and long-term scalability, the AuraX is the clear choice. It delivers higher output, more versatility, and stronger ROI, all without a major difference in upfront cost.
To learn more about Hefestus can help you scale your pre-roll production, see our AuraX page or use the button in the header to connect directly with our sales team.
RollPros Blackbird vs. Hefestus AuraX: Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions our customers frequently ask us about how the RollPros Blackbird and Hefestus AuraX compare:
Why Choose the Hefestus AuraX Over the Blackbird?
Choose the Hefestus AuraX if your goal is to scale beyond 900 joints per hour and produce multiple SKUs with ease. The AuraX is built for operators who want to run cones, blunts, infused products, and straight rolls on a single machine while maintaining consistent quality and maximum efficiency. Its higher output, full automation, and modular add-ons make it the smarter choice for businesses focused on growth and long-term profitability.
Why Choose the Blackbird Over the Hefestus AuraX?
Choose the RollPros Blackbird if your operation is focused exclusively on cigarette-style joints and you don’t plan to expand into other formats. For brands producing a single SKU and maintaining moderate volume, the Blackbird can be a simple, reliable option. However, if versatility or future scalability is part of your business plan, the AuraX is the better investment.
How Do the AuraX and Blackbird Compare to Semi-Automated Production With a Futurola Knockbox?
When comparing fully automated systems like the AuraX and Blackbird to semi-automated options such as the Futurola Knockbox, production scale is the key difference. The Knockbox performs well for smaller operations but quickly becomes limiting once you reach around 10,000 joints per month. For facilities targeting 30,000 joints or more, upgrading to a fully automated system is essential to sustain profitability and meet demand without increasing labor costs.
